Our Philosophy
Once you’ve seen, tasted, and experienced all that the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail has to offer, you will absolutely fall in love with it! Our hearts and souls are poured into each and every bottle, and our wines, ciders, meads, and spirits are the embodiment of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail’s investment into the very heart of New York State.
We are the first-organized and longest-running wine trail in America that was established in 1983 to promote wineries located within the Cayuga Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA) as a collective. Our area’s wine has earned more than 6,000 national and international medals, and our area includes breathtaking views of Cayuga Lake, Taughannock Falls, and rolling vineyards.
What makes us different? We were all grape growers first. We didn’t inherit big estates and established businesses. When the bottom fell out of the grape market in the mid '70s, we adapted and changed to preserve our resources to grow and prosper. In addition to managing and working in our own wineries, we conduct the business of the CLWT utilizing the time, energy, and knowledge of our members.
As the first organized and longest running wine trail in America, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail has become a model for other wine trails both in New York and around the country. It is a benchmark for results attained by working together for a common goal.
